It’s been a busy 24 hours for the Tommy Lloyd and Arizona. Between adding new players, beefing up the already stout 2025-26 schedule, and NBA Combine developments, Wildcat Nation has a lot to be excited about between now and the start of the season. On Friday, Sudanese forward Mabil Mawut signed with Arizona, Carter Bryant received an invited to the NBA Combine, and the Wildcats scheduled a non-conference game against the defending national champion Florida Gators.
Our special edition of Arizona Basketball Notebook breaks it all down:
Mabil Mawut signs with Wildcats:
Mabil Mawut, whose full name is Mabilmawut Kon Mobil, signed with Arizona on Friday, giving the “International Whisper,” Tommy Lloyd, his second African big man of the week, joining Sidi Gueye from Senegal. At 6-foot-11, Mawut gives the Wildcats another developmental big that can stretch the floor and add size in the post. Jason Scheer of WildcatAuthority first reported the news, the team social media accounts later confirmed the news.
Mawut told WildcatAuthority, “I committed to Arizona because of the culture and the relationship I have been able to build with Tommy Lloyd, Jack Murphy and the coaching staff. That’s something I love to be a part of. I talk to almost all the of the coaching staff and have been able to continue building a great relationship with them.”
The NBA African Academy graduate is the latest international player to put their trust in Tommy Lloyd, joining a long list that includes Oumar Ballo, Christian Koloko, Bennedict Mathurin, Pelle Larsson, and more. He also gives Arizona some much needed depth in the post, which now features Tobe Awaka, Motiejus Krivas, Koa Peat, and Gueye.
Carter Bryant invited to NBA Combine:
After declaring as an NBA Draft Early Entrant last week, Carter Bryant has officially been invited to the 2025 NBA Combine. He is one of 75 players attending the combine, held annually in Chicago. He is also the lone Wildcat on the list, after guards Caleb Love and Jaden Bradley did not make the cut. Bryant is one of just six Big 12 players to receive an invite, along with Egor Demin (BYU), VJ Edgecombe Jr. (Baylor), Javon Small (West Virginia), Milos Uzan (Houston), and Darrion Williams (Texas Tech).
ESPN’s latest mock draft has Carter Bryant going 20th-overall to the Oklahoma City Thunder. Some outlets like The Ringer have Bryant going as high as 9th-overall to the Houston Rockets.
Per Bruce Pascoe of the Arizona Daily Star, if Bryant elects to withdraw from the NBA Draft, he has already signed a financial agreement guaranteeing his return to Arizona.
Arizona schedules non-conference matchup with Florida:
Just when it looked like the Wildcats’ non-conference schedule couldn’t get any tougher, Tommy Lloyd and Co. said hold my beer. According to CBS’ Jon Rothstein, Arizona has scheduled a non-conference matchup with the defending national champion Florida Gators. The game is reportedly scheduled for November 3, the opening night of the 2025-26 season, and will be played at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Arizona is 2-2 all-time against Florida, winning the last matchup 65-64 in Tucson back in 2012. The Wildcats have a history of traveling well to T-Mobile Arena for the Pac-12 Tournament over the years, turning the venue into what has been nicknamed “McKale North.”
Tommy Lloyd now has a gauntlet of a non-conference schedule, which features the following matchups:
- November 3 vs. Florida (T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas)
- November 14 vs. UCLA (Intuit Dome, Los Angeles)
- November 19 at UConn
- December 6 vs. Auburn
- December 13 vs. Alabama (Birmingham)
- TBD vs. Bucknell
With Sudanese forward Mabil Mawut signing with Arizona, Carter Bryant receiving an invite to the NBA Combine, and a non-conference game against Florida on the horizon, there is plenty for Wildcat Nation to be excited about heading into the offseason.